Brewer s mashing-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. KAESTNER. BREWERS MASHING MACHINE. No. 479,189.

Patented July 19, 1892 (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 2f C. KAESTNER.

BRBWERS MASHING MACHINE.

No. 479,189. Patented July 19, 1892a (No Model.) 'v Y a 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. KAESTNER.

- BREWERS MASHING MACHINE. l

No. 479,189. Patented July 19, 1892.

(No Model.)

I 4 eeeee s-sheen `4. C. KABSTN BREWERS MASHING HINE.

No. 479,189. Patented Ju1y 19, 1892.

Mufti-3D STATES PATENT Prien.

CHARLES KAESTNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BREWERS MASHlNG-VIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,189, dated July 19, 1892.

Applicationled April 2, 1891. Serial No. 387,337. (No model.)

cago, Illinois, have'invented certain new and' useful Improvements in Brewers Mashing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to that class of brewers mashing-machines wherein the vertical power-shaft which carries the mash-working devices-such as rakes and Scrapers-is made endwise movable, so that the rakes or scrapers may be elevated above the mash; and my invention relates more particularly to a mashing-machine of the class described wherein the vertical shaft to which the mashworking appliances are connected is made in two sections, one of which is rotatable and the other liked. vThe fixed section has a step, in which the lower end of the rotatable section is seated, and I have provided convenient and simple devices for elevating and lowering the shaft. In the preferred construction I make the lowershaft-section hollow and employ a screw, which works through a nut fixed in the lower end of the hollow shaft, and this screw I turn by means of any suitable gearing, manipulated either by hand orby power, to raise the shaft. In another form of construction the screw projects through a nut formed in the hub 4of a gear-wheel placed below the shaft; but of course in this construction there must be a clear space below the foundation on which the machine rests to permit the screw to extend below the hanger or foundation when the shaft is lowered in position for mashing. I have also provided a divided clamping-ring to hold the shaft-sections together and a divided coupling for connecting the-driving-gear for the screw and its support, and to this coupling I secure a hanger for a driving-shaft, and thus adapt said support to be swung in any direction. I have also provided ball-bearings for the hub of the driving-gear which turns Vthe central shaft and for the hub of the driving-gear which turns the screw. I have also provided means for counterbalancing the vweight of the inachine, said means comprising a hub secured with the shaft and having guide arms to steady the shaft and studs carrying sheaves,

'a ball-bearing for said hub and the divided hanger. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the lower end of the rotatable section of the vshaft and showing the fixed section hollow and with a screw working through a nut in the lower end of the shaft up into its hollow. Fig. iis a detail view of the nut, shaft, and screw and showing, also, in section thehub of a guide carryin gthe counterbalancesheaves. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hanger. 7o Fig. -is a plan view of the guide and sheave supports. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a studing-boX, and` Fig. 8 is a detail view ota ballbearing for the upper driving-gear. Fig 9 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3 above 75 the break in the latter view.

In the drawings, 6 indicates the mash-tub. In the bottom of the tub is a stufling-box 7, (see Fig. 7,) through which may be adjusted verticallyT the non-rotating shaft-section 8. 8o The upper end of said shaft-section is fitted with a step, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, and in this step is seated the rotatable shaftsection 9,to which are secured the bearings 10 11 for the inner ends of the scraper-shaft 12 85 and the rake-shaft 18, respectively, the outer ends of these shafts being supported by the hangers 1i 15 from the beam 16, which is also secured to the rotating shaft-section 9. Gearing is applied to said shaft-section above the 9o top of the mash-tub for rotating it, and its rotation causes the rake and scraper shafts to sweep around the tub. The rake-shaft is rotated ou its own axis by means of the beveled pinions 17 1S, the former being secured 95 with its shaft and the latter being secured with the shaft-section S. The bearing 1l, which is rigidly secured to the shaft-section 9, is held by means of the divided collar 19, one edge of which fits into a groove 20 in the Ico bearing 1l and the outer rim of which is bolted to the arms of the gear 18. This divided collar serves as a coupling to hold the shaft-section 9 to the section 8 while lowering the machine and permits of the two being readily connected or separated at will.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ascrew 21 has its upper end fastened in a bushing 22, and the latter is secured by-,the tap-bolts 23 to the lower end of the shaft-section 8. This screw has a threaded engagement with the hub of the gear 24, which is driven by a pinion 25 on a shaft 26. The inner end of said shaft is supported from the gear 24 by means of the divided hanger 27. (Shown in Fig. 5.) The hub of the gear 24 travels upon the balls 28, which are confined in grooves formed in the lower face of the hub and in the upper face of the bearing or support 29,which is coupled with the hub by means of the hanger 27. This hanger permits the shaft 26 to be swung in any direction and forms a coupling for the bearing.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the screw 2l is secured with the gear 24 by means of the set-screw 2l, and the threaded end of the screw 21 projects into the hollow of the shaft-section 8, in the lower end of which is fitted the bushing 22, which in this instance is threaded. The advantage of this construction is that the screw passes into the hollow of the shaft-section, and it therefore requires less space below the machine.

The shaft 26 may be rotated in any convenient manner-as, for example, by the hand-wheel and driving-chain shown in Fig. 1 or by a belt or other suitable power. 'It is obvious that the rotation of this shaft, acting through the gear 24, will with either of the constructions described enable the vertical adjustment of the shaft-sections 8 9, thus raising or lowering the Scrapers and rakes or other mash-working devices.

In the operation of mashing it is frequently desirable to elevate the scrapers and rakes to the top of the mash, so as to break up the hard crust which forms after the wort is drawn 0E, and in discharging the grains the Scrapers and rakes are usually lowered grad ually, so as to facilitate the operation of clearing the tub. In order to render the adjustment easy,I have provided a couuterbalanceweight 30, suspended on cables which pass over guiding-sheaves 3l and have their opposite ends made fast, as at 32. I carry these cables beneath sheaves 33,which are mounted on short arms 34, projecting from the hub of the guide-arms 35, which have loops or eyes 35, adapted to slide on the guide-rods 3G. The hub 37 is secured with the shaft-section S by means of a set-screw 38 or other convenient device, and these guides therefore serve not only to steady the shaft in its movements, but they also prevent its rotation.

In Fig. 8 l have shown a bearing for the upper driving-gear 3S). This gear is splined on the shaft 9, and its hub rests in the bush 40, which is also splined .onthe shaft 9. 4l is a bearing-block, which'A rests on the top of the tub, and the lower face of the flange of the bush and the upper face of the bearingblock are grooved to form a race or way for the balls 42. This construction obviates much friction in the driving-gear, requires no oiling, and permits the vertical adjustment of the shaft.

I claim- 1. In means for adjusting the mash-working devices of brewers mashingmachines, the combination of a vertically-movable shaft constructed in two sections, the upper one of which is rotatable upon the lower and carries the mash-working devices, said lower section being hollow and secured against rotation, and an adjusting-screw havinga threaded engagement with the lower section and adapted to project into the hollow thereof in adjusting the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In means for elevating the central shaft of brewers mashing-machines, the combination, with the central shaft, of a screw for raisingit, a drivin g-gear forturning the screw, a support and ball-bearings for the hub of the driving-gear, and adivided coupling engaged v with the support and the hub of the drivinggear for maintaining them in alignment, substantially as described.

3. In means for elevating the mash-working devices of brewers mashing-machines, the combination, with the central shaft, of a screw for raising it, a driving-gear for turning the screw, a support and ball-bearings for the hub of the driving-gear and a divided coupling engaged with the support and driving-gear, a driving-shaft having a pinion enmeshed with the driving-gear, and a bearing for the innerend of said shaft connected with the coupling, whereby the shaft may be adjusted radially, substantially as described.

4. In means for adjusting the central shaft of brewers mashing-machines, the combination, with a couuterbalance, of guide-armssecured with the shaft and having studs carrying sheaves, over which the couuterbalancecables are carri ed,substantially as described.

CHARLES KAESTNER.

Witnesses:

C. C. LINTHICUM, FREDERICK C. GOODWIN.

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